Ancillary Services

[jrt4]

Hey group - I am looking for some advice regarding getting ancillary services to do their jobs so I don't have to. (yes I know how that sounds). I seem to be in a spot where I need respiratory or lab or even dietary to do something, they say they will do it and then nothing happens. I have tried all of the tricks that have worked in the past such as bumping it up to senior leader, giving out deadlines, following up with frequent emails and phone calls. I get the "oh I am sorry, I have been really busy and haven't had time to get to that yet but I promise I will get it done". Now my expectations are not unreasonable as far as when I expect things to be done...there just seems to be no accountability but yet my leaders expect me to complete these tasks so I am being held accountable. There are projects I have sent to IT that I really need completed so we can open a unit and despite multiple emails, phone calls, and asking their one ups I can't seem to make any progress. Its incredibly frustrating when we have so much to do and then I have to spend valuable time chasing people down. I have never worked at a place like this...usually it is me chasing down my employees for things but they are wonderful. Any tips you have used would be appreciated!!! Thank you.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

Before I answer - are any or all of these services contracted, or are they employees of your facility? The answer will determine the approach.

[jrt4]

We have a mixture of both contracted and hospital employed services.

[MikeyT-c-IV]

OP, do we work at the same facility? :) I feel your pain and I have no advice as everything I try/tried failed. I have had this conversation with my boss. Why is nursing held accountable for expectations and deadlines but not ancillary? I can't fully express the frustration of having projects delayed over my need to depend on other departments/leaders to do their part. Now I have to stop before I start ranting more than I have. Good luck and I look forward to following this thread.

[jrt4]

OP, do we work at the same facility? :) I feel your pain and I have no advice as everything I try/tried failed. I have had this conversation with my boss. Why is nursing held accountable for expectations and deadlines but not ancillary? I can't fully express the frustration of having projects delayed over my need to depend on other departments/leaders to do their part. Now I have to stop before I start ranting more than I have. Good luck and I look forward to following this thread.

Thank you for validating my concerns! haha

I've been at facilities where its been rough with ancillary services at times but this place is almost to the point of ridiculous. I realize we are all stretched thin particularly in the for-profit world but come on! I don't like CC'ing high level administrators but I feel like thats what I have to do to get things done. Even that doesn't work sometimes.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

For the contracted services, I would go through your facility administrator. For those who are employees, I would talk to the unit head or supervisor of that group of employees. One problem with contracted services is that generally you can't directly order them to do anything (one reason that I'm not a big fan of them). You are forced to go through channels and hope that your administrator is able to have some degree of influence with them.